CHETWYND – The District of Chetwynd received some praise last month from the Green Communities Committee for its successful efforts to measure and reduce its corporate greenhouse gas emissions for the 2013 reporting year.

The provincial government – Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) Green Communities Committee was created to develop strategies, actions, supports and incentives to help implement the Climate Action Charter.

The charter commits local governments to lowering their carbon foot print and taking community-wide actions that demonstrate leadership on sustainable development.

“As a signatory to [the charter], you have demonstrated commitment to work with the province and UBCM to take action on climate change and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in your community and corporate operations,” states a congratulatory letter to Chetwynd co-signed by Jay Scholsar, assistant deputy minister with the Green Communities Committee, and Gary MacIssac, executive director of UBCM.

The acknowledgment was part of the Climate Action Recognition Program for BC local governments.

This is a multi-level program that provides the Green Communities Committee with an opportunity to review and publicly recognize the progress and achievements of each Climate Action Charter signatory.

Chetwynd this year, was given “level 2” recognition for measurement.

Local governments in this category have completed a corporate carbon inventory for the reporting year and have demonstrated that they are familiar with the Community Energy and Emissions Inventory.

For this recognition, Chetwynd received the title of ‘Climate Action Community 2013’ which comes with a logo, for use on its website and letterhead.

“Congratulations again on establishing your corporate inventory and your overall progress,” Scholsar and MacIssac wrote. “We wish you continued success in your ongoing commitment to the goal of corporate carbon neutrality and your efforts to reduce emissions in the broader community.”

The District of Chetwynd, in conjunction with the Peace River Regional District created a Chetwynd community energy plan to help meet its voluntary commitments under the Climate Action Charter.

Under these same commitments, Chetwynd also established a corporate energy plan, corporate energy efficiency opportunity assessment and a corporate energy and emissions inventory report.

The inventory addresses the corporate operations, consumption and emissions with actions to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

The latest 2013 data was not available by press time.

Corporate emissions include those that the municipality creates through its activities such as municipal building operations, recreation centres, vehicle fleets, and utility services.

Community emissions are those that residents and businesses in the community create through their activities. The municipality cannot control these, but may be able to influence them through planning and program activities.